‘Tragic’ job cuts

Unite has described the decision by Intelligent Processing Solutions Ltd (iPSL) to close seven sites across the county resulting in approximately 600 job losses as “tragic”.

Staff across the cheque processing company have today (November 8) been informed that iPSL will be reducing their operations to just two sites in Northampton and Milton Keynes and therefore halving their employee numbers.

“The announcement of seven site closures and significant job losses at iPSL is tragic news for the workforce,” said Unite national officer Dominic Hook. “This consolidation strategy is deeply disappointing and the impact will be felt widely.

“This proposal will leave a workforce of just over 700 at iPSL which handles around 80 per cent of cheques issued in the UK each year,” he added.

“The tide of digitalisation across the financial services brings with it huge challenges as organisations have to adapt the way they work. The changing face of cheque processing, with new digital imaging, has brought considerable difficulties for this industry. Unite wants to now see iPSL make the necessary investment through new technology to secure as many jobs as is possible.

“This news will be a bitter blow for iPSL colleagues and Unite has pressed the company to provide the workforce with support and guidance with two training programmes and outplacement support to be offered to staff.”

The plans, which are yet to be signed off by the Board, are:

• Close sites at: Bootle, Bradford, Copley, Edinburgh Tweed House, Chelmsford, Clydebank and Camberley in 2018
• Maintain sites in: Northampton and Northfields Milton Keynes.

In the coming weeks Unite will be visiting its members across all the iPSL sites to help and support them.